The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-27
HE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SUNDA
them laughing nearly all night twas reyela
ton, doubtless, of American manners and was
keenly enjoyed
CHINESE SPIRITUALISM.
The Frequent Visits of Ghost to His Sur
viying and Dishonest Partner.

China is nation of spirtualists and the ideas
of Chinese spirits and the world of spirits do
not materially differ from the views held by
people of that belief in other lands. In this city
nearly all of that race are thorough believers in
the power of spirits to return and make them
selves manifest to persons on earth-even to
converse with friends who yet lingec in the
flesh. In conversation with a very intelligent
Chinaman, the reporter obtained a number of
curious facts. eve believe said he sin spirits,
bad and good, coming back to earth, and we
have so many repeated proofs of this that we
consider it an established fact" The reporter,
who is merciful to the reader, refrains from Civ
ing his Chinese friends pigeon lingo. Under
certain circumstances continued he, "the ap-
pearance of spirit indicates the death OF some
member of the household to which it appears
You remember that about three years ago
Chinaman died in a laundry on Massachusetts,
avenue. A few nights before my friend was
taken sick spirit came into the room where he
and some of his companions were, and, by indi-
cations which they understood. led them to
know that one Of the men at that laundry would
sicken and die. They resented the appearance
of the spirit. and did everything they could to
charm away the evil influence, but without
avail. The very next week the man was taken
sick, and he knew from the first that he was the
appointed victim and would die. as he did two
weeks later
Spirits OF Chinese dead appe.r so often at
another laundry in this city as to compel the
proprietor to keep light burning in his sleep
ing-room all night, for it is law with US that
in the light these spirits have little power to
manifest themselves. In d cellar occupied by
ChiEaman laundry the spirit of former
partner appears almost every night and holds
long talks with the living partner. 1t is COM
mon in China, after a death in a family,
for the spirit of the departed one to appear and
talk audibly to members of the household.
These appearances are generally IN the dusk OF
evening or in the night time. In our Chinese
paper from San Francisco recently, was story
which may sound curious to you. but all the
Chinese here believe it. Some of US know the
merchants about whom it is told. There were
two Cinnamon in business in San Francisco, and
one of them died. He was a merchant, and soon
after his death, in the twilight, about the time
the surviving partner was closing the store, the
spirit of the dead partner came and spoke to
him, very clearly. requesting him to send to
China and haye bis son, the son of the
The survivor greatly shaken at the appear
ance of the shade Of his partner, and his request,
but as the conversation was prolonged. he recov
cred his self possession and promised to write to
the son to come, with which promise the spirit
departed. But the partner was rot honest. He
did not intend the family OF his comrade should
know of his death; he would say nothing about
| it, and continue to use his capital in the bust
ness. In short time the spirit came again. and
| this time made more disturbance than upon his
former visit. In an angry voice, the spirit asked
why he had not sent for the son as he had prom
| lsed The partner euuivocated, and as the ques-
ton was repeated with greater emphasis, he
| said that tbs reason he had not sent for the son
was because he knew nothing of the business,
| ard that he did not want him as q partner
Very we'll, then said the spirit if that is your
| reason you may send my portion of the firms
money to my widow in China
This the partner faithfully promised to do,
| after the spirit appeared to the widow in China
| and asked her if the partner in San Francisco
| had sent the money, to which she answered that
| he had not The very next night as was found
by careful comparison of dates, the spirit ap-
peared in the store at San Francisco, and in a
voice of terrible anger asked the trembling de-
linquent why he had not sent the proceeds of
the spirits share in the store TO the widow The
| partner managed at length to stammer out that
the spirit had no right to trouble him, that
| he had NO further business on this earth, and
| that the money would not be sent to the widow
| at all The spirit said, You will send it, and
| picking up heavy ruler that lay upon a desk,
hurled it at the offenders head. The spirit in
| timated that what be had done was very slight
manifestation of his power, and that if the money
| was not promptly sent, he would visit upon the
| delinquent a most terrible punishment. The
| partner, now thoroughly alarmed. and con-
vinced that further delay would be dangerous,
| solemnly promised the spirit that he would set
| tie up affairs and send the money. He did so,
| and the narration here given confirmed in all
| its details. comes from the partner, who is
deeply penitent for the wrong he attempted to
| commit"